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How to become a system builder?

I have clients in constant need of new computers but at inexpensive rates. Could save them a little if built myself but what is costly is purchasing those OS (XP Pro, 7 Business, & Home) from retail stores. What are the actual steps to become a Micrsoft system builder and purchase their software as OEM and receive the COAs for these OS's? Thx...

Houssam Ballout

you can check some videos here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+assemble+a+computer&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=j11&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=v&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=enrES9ynAs-ZOPPsnNwP&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCsQqwQwAw

and also:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_Assemble_A_Desktop_PC

To purchase a software, you can call one of the Microsoft Dealers near by

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Brian Pierce

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xav1963

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Thx for info... will look it over... I have assembled computers before... I just need help with acquiring MS OEM software....

Brian Pierce

see the link I gave you - it has all of the details about it :-)

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johnb6767

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willcomp

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xav1963

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KCTS gave me the correct answer so he receives the majority of points. But I do agree with the reasoning of johnb6767 and willcomp and will stick to purchasing name-brands.... thx for all the info...

Michael Knight

I for one concur johnb, I order for my offices and the properties we manage, It used to make sense to build these boxes as "parting them out" was cheaper. But like you, I can pick up a solid workstation with a 2 year warranty and a pro operating system for $600 delivered. to me it's a no brainer, yes there's 30 minutes removing all the bundled crap, and installing AV/MBAM etc., but no longer than it would take me to figure out the jumper config on a stand alone main board, and do driver installs. I still build my own computers for myself, for gaming or media center but for 'pencil pushers' a $600 dollar machine is fine.
xav1963, I'm assuming your goal is to make money, I remember being able to build a system from scratch with about $350 in parts, I was a System Builder so out the door i was looking at about $500 actual cost, and I'd add a $300-$400 markup and get systems to people tops $1000, while Dell was selling inferior boxes for $1400 +tax. Now adays, you can buy some pretty awesome machines for $1000...so why would they need me? My profit margin would be so low, it's not worth it. meaning, I can't compete with an OEM, nor do i want to. It's really hard to make money in the parts game unless you're dealing with totally clueless clients, If you have a decent pricing scale at say CDW or another big name that actually has sales managers, and volume pricing (most don't now) you can still make $50-$100 here or there on abstract cables and peripheals, but as soon as they find NewEgg...you're done. So I don't play the parts game anymore, but it was fun while it lasted :) Before i went all corporate and stuff I made the bulk of my money fixing computers I had never touched before, you know malware and the like, and programming freelance in the slow time, I made fine money, but the industry is definately shifting.